Valve turning tool



July 13, 1937. J MATUELLA 2,086,722

VALVE TURNING TOOL Filed Sept. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l In venior dfzal agzza M By 92mm W am ,4 iiomeys July 13, 1937. EL A 2,086,722

VALVE TURNING TOOL Filed Sept. 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V [3 e112! air/621:2

A iiorneys Patented July 13, 1937 UNlTED 'YTSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,086,722 VALVE TURNING r001. 7 Charles J. Matuella, Hazleton, Pa. Application September 25, 1936, Serial No. 102,592

5 Claims.

The present invention relates to what is believed to be a new as well as novel tool or imple- -.ment expressly designed to facilitate turning a valve handle-10f the spoke-equipped or wheel type, and the purpose of the invention is to provide What may be called an auxiliary handle or lever v:detac'hably connectable with the hand-wheel to expedite turning it in either direction and to in- -sure;satisfactory seating of the valve in its casing.

.Needless to say, .I am sufficiently conversant with the general state of the prior art to which :the invention relates to recognize that it is not "broadly new "to provide a detachable rod or lever susceptibleof releasable engagement with a handwheel suchas is used in turning some types of valves; Notwithstanding the recognized state of development of the prior art, I feel that I have discovered the need for a better. type auxiliary "lever or handle more aptly fitted for the purposes intended and susceptible of more expeditious application rand removal due to the improvements and refinements in structural features embodied therein. i

Briefly and broadly stated, the preferred em- 0 bodiment of the invention comprises a rod which :is in effect ahand-wheel turning lever, the same beingprovided at one end with satisfactory and dependable .claw means for detachable connectionwith either the rim or'spokes of the handwhel, :said' means being such as to permit the hand wheel to be turned in either direction for opening-or closing the valve, as the case may be.

In reducing the principles of the inventive conception to practice, I have evolved and produced a simple and economicaltool characterized "by a hook formation at one end which is in turn individualized by the association therewith of three spaced lugs providing the desired retention Iandabutment elements to facilitate proper handling and turning of the valve operating handwheel. Other features and advantages will become more'readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In'the drawings:

Figure 1' is what may be called an under side or bottom plan view of the conventional hand- "wheel used in certain types of ammonia and similar valves showing, in full lines, one method by which the tool'is engaged with the rim to turn the when in one direction; and further showing, in dotted lines, how thetool is manipulated to turn the wheel in an opposite direction.

" resume is an end view looking at the hook end construction of the rod and showing the general relationship of prongs or lugs forming the several connecting and stop or abutment elements.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of what might be called an ammonia valve having a hand-wheel, the rim of the hand-wheel being sorts of makeshift devices of other'construction. however, to include broken away to show how the retention and ful- 'crum 'pin is cooperable therewith.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing in full .lines and dotted lines different ways of using the tool, whereby instead of engaging it with the rim, it'may be engaged simultaneously with the rim and one of the spokes, if desired.

Figure 5 is still a further showing of the use of the tool, disclosing how the three-prong claw can be satisfactorily engaged with a three-spoke hand-wheel.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tool showing with sufficient particularity the claw construction thereof.

By way of introduction to the detailed descrip tion, it is to be pointed out that the tool or implement is not limited to any particular industrial line of endeavor. It is true that it was perfected-with a view toward turning hand-wheels such as are used on ammonia valves. familiar with valves of this type realize that it is difficult, under certain conditions, to turn the valves when they become stuck. Not only this, in a plant using a multiplicity of valves, it is quite a task to turn off and open the valves when making repairs and for other circulation control results. i As a general proposition, all are used, and quite frequently an ordinary wrench is employed for the purpose. This has led to the discovery of what is believed to be an innovation or rather a unique tool which may more satisfactorily accomplish the desired results in a dependable and eflicient manner. In the drawings the valve casing is denoted by the numeral 4 and the hand-wheel by the numeral 5. This is-the usual radial spokeequipped wheel .andincludes an annular rim or circular frame 6 generally cylindrical in crosssectional form. Incidentally, the configuration of these hand-wheels vary, but the tool herein shown is generally applicable to any number of hand- Wheels ranging from smallones to large ones, this being one of the outstanding features of the invention.

So far as the tool itself is concerned, it is to be pointed out that it is of a diversified character and lends itself admirably well to coaction in different ways with the rim and spokes of a hand-wheel. Before attempting to describe, however, the various uses, shown for example in Fig T ures 1, 3, 4, and '5, the tool itself will be described in detail. For instance,'the tool as a unit is denoted by the numeral 1. It is formed from a single length of metal rod, though it might be The arrangement is such, an appropriate handle 8. The length of the handle will vary, since it can be employed as a simple short lever for turning the wheel, or it can be employed as a reachrod when the hand-wheel is located close to the Those or d ceiling or some other seemingly inaccessible point. The outer end portion of the rod is bent upon itself into what may be called a hook 9. The hook terminates in a lateral extension l which in turn is provided with a projection constituting What may be conveniently called a detent. Extending at right angles from the handle 8 and located at the juncture of the handle and the hook 9 is a lug i2, and this corresponds in length to the lug it. Then between the two lugs is a third or central lug #3. Consequently, on this hook we have three distinguishable lugs usable in various ways to render the tool aptly fitted for the various purposes intended.

As a general proposition, the preferred method of using the tool is disclosed in Figures 1 and 3. That is to say, the claw formation constituting the features 9, H3, l2 and I3 is generally releasably engaged with the rim 6 of the handwheel 5. Take for example, at the left in full line we see the lug Ill and its detent ll cooperable with the outer periphery of the ring 6. At the same time, the lug 13, which is in effect a retainer or fulcrum, is engageable with the inner periphery. Moving the tool handle in the direction of the arrow there indicated serves to turn the wheel in a direction from left to right. Should it be desired to turn it in a reverse direction, that is, from right to left, the features are engaged, as shown in dotted lines in the same figure. In other words, the fulcrum stud or pin I3 is in about the same relationship as shown at the left, but in this instance the lug I2 is bound firmly against the outer perimeter of the ring.

As is evident from Figure 4, it is notalways necessary to confine the grip action of the claw to engaging the rim 6. It can be engaged in many different ways and additional ways are shown in said Figure 4. For example, in full line We see the hooked lug l0 engaged with the outer periphery of the rim and the lug l2 engaged with the inner periphery and simultaneously bearing against one of the spokes. This arrangement lends itself particularly Well to what is called a five-spoke hand-wheel.

At the right in phantom or dotted lines in Figure 4, the action is reversed so that the lugs Ill and it come into play. These are simply engaged directly with opposite sides of one of the spokes and this affords a requisite clamping grip sumcient to turn the wheel in the same direction as is done with the prongs or lugs engaged as shown in full lines at the left.

Directing attention now to the method of engagement illustrated in Figure 5, it will be seen that it is possible to use the triple lug-equipped hook 9 in such a way that it may fit satisfactorily around the nut (not shown) which is usually on the top or outer surface of the handwheel. Or to state the problem otherwise, it is possible to engage the three lugs with the three independent spokes of the wheel to turn the wheel in the desired direction. These various methods of engaging the claw with the wheel rim or the spokes, as the case may be, have been disclosed to show the versatility of a tool possessing the features shown and described. There are other ways of using the tool in addition to those illustrated, though it seems unnecessary to delve into these illustrations inasmuch as the novelty resides primarily in the specific construction of the tool itself. It follows, therefore, that the gist of the invention is in the provision of a lever-like tool having a multiple prong claw at one end with the prongs or lugs thereof engageable in predetermined ways with handwheels of the type or types illustrated.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A tool of the class described comprising a handle formed with a hook-shaped portion at one end, a laterally directed fulcrum and retention pin attached to and extending at right angles to the bight portion of said hook, said hook terminating in a laterally directed fulcrum lug having a detent, and a second abutment lug formed integral with the handle at the juncture of the handle and hook-shaped portion.

2. A valve hand-wheel turning tool of the class described comprising a longitudinally elongated rod having one end bent to form a hook, the major portion of said rod constituting an operating lever and said hook being disposed in a plane therewith, said hook terminating at its free end in a laterally directed lug and said lug terminating in a detent, the bight portion of said hook having a laterally directed fulcrum and retention pin disposed at right angles to the hook and in parallelism with said lug and coordinated with said lug in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. A tool of the class described comprising a handle formed with a hook-shaped portion at one end, said hook terminating in a laterally directed fulcrum lug formed with a detentyand a. laterally directed fulcrum and retention pin attached to and extending at right angles from the bight portion of said hook-shaped portion.

4. A valve hand-wheel turning tool comprising a rod bent upon itself at one end to form a hook, said hook terminating in a laterally directed fulcrum lug which in turn terminates in a laterally disposed detent element, and an abutment formed integral with the handle at the juncture of said handle and the bend forming said hook, said hook being in a plane with the handle, and said lug being at right angles thereto.

5. A valve hand-wheel turning tool of the class described comprising a metal rod of cylindrical cross-sectional form fashioned at one end to define an adapter hook, the free end or bill portion of said hook terminating in a right angularly disposed lug and said lug terminating in a laterally directed detent element, a second lug formed integral with the juncture of the hook and handle and disposed opposite the firstnamed lug and at right angles to said handle, and a third lug arranged at an equi-distant point between said first-named lugs and formed 1ntegral with the bight portion of said hook and extending at right angles to said hook and being parallel with said first-named lugs.

CHARLES J. MATUELLA. 

